Kikuletwa Hot Springs (Chemka)

Kikuletwa Hot Springs, also known as Chemka Hot Springs, is a natural warm-water pool in the village of Rundugai, about 65 kilometres west of Moshi in the Kilimanjaro region. The springs produce a large, clear pool of perfectly warm water surrounded by ancient fig trees, palms, and lush vegetation — a genuine oasis in the dry Maasai steppe. Swimming is the main activity; the water is warm but not hot, clean, and deep enough to dive in.

The journey from Moshi takes around an hour and a half on local roads. Most visitors come on half-day or full-day tours from Moshi, sometimes combined with a visit to nearby Maasai villages. The site is well known locally but rarely crowded with foreign tourists. Bring your own food and drinks as facilities at the springs themselves are minimal.

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Kikuletwa is fed by underground springs from Kilimanjaro's base, which gives the water a consistent temperature of around 32°C year-round. The pool is clear enough to see the spring outlets on the bottom, and the surrounding palms and fig trees create a surreal oasis effect in the middle of otherwise dry, dusty Maasai steppe. The journey there, through red-dust tracks and semi-arid landscape, is half the experience.

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